Beat the Masters 4
September 1988, Position H
Black to play
Contributions are welcome in the comments box. Masters’ feedback will be published tomorrow.
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My move choice is 1... Ba4.
ReplyDeleteBlack is a pawn up and has the bishop pair against bishop and knight. White isn’t doing too much. He’d be threatening Nxb3 but his knight is pinned. Black should be winning, right?
I'd like to secure pb3 and win White’s pa5. Might 1 ... Be6 intending 2 ... Bb4 and 3 ... Bxa5 work? I don’t think it does due to 2. Nxe6 Bxe3 3. Nc7 Bd2 4. Nxa6 Bxa5 5. Nc5 Bc3 6. Nxe4 after which pb3 will also be rounded up.
1... Bg4 intending ... Bd1 to cover pb3 doesn’t seem to work either as the White king just comes across.
So how about 1... Ba4 covering pb3 and then ... Bb4 and ... Bxa5? Yes, Ba4 is awkward but Black will be two pawns ahead and maybe he can consolidate with ... g6, ... f5 and then develop his king.
Just realised that after 1... Ba4 White might play 2. Nf5. However, 2 ... Bb4 3. Bb6 Bc3! is good isn't it?
DeleteHi Angus,
ReplyDelete1 ... Ba4 was my choice too. It scores 10 points - but it’s not the best move.
Full explanation tomorrow morning in the follow up post.